Derry Journal
A Letterkenny man who was abducted and found wounded near Churchill two years ago has offered to give evidence in court against members of the Real IRA, it has been claimed.
Liam McGinley, who was abducted and left on a mountain road in the Stramore in the Derryveigh Mountains in November 2007, is under garda protection. McGinley has revealed the identity of Real IRA figure in the northwest including the identities of the gunmen who murdered former leading Sinn Féin official and self-confessed British Spy Denis Donaldson who was Killed at his isolated farmhouse near Doochary in April 2006.
The Sunday Times reported that the father of six has made statements to gardaí outlining his knowledge of the Real IRA and naming the gunmen who shot him. A file containing McGinley's statements is now before the Director of Public Prosecutions.
McGinley made his way to a farmhouse at Glendoan on November 2007 after he was left at Stramore near Churchill suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. A local family helped him get to Letterkenny General Hospital before he was transferred to the Mater Hospital in Dublin. At the time the shooting was linked to the drugs trade.
McGinley appeared at Letterkenny District Court three months later surrounded by armed gardaí and was sentenced to six months in prison for theft and public order offences. At the time his solicitor claimed sending McGinley to prison would be "tantamount to a death sentence" adding his life would be a risk if he was put in with the general prison population.
After being taken to the Mater Hospital, McGinley agreed to co-operate with gardaí in return for protection but it is not known if he has been formally admitted to the Garda wittiness protection programme.
Security sources claim McGinley's co-operation is a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism in the northwest. Although he was never a member of the Real IRA he is understood to have extensive contacts in the organisation and while his evidence is unlikely to lead to Donaldson's killers being charged soon, charges could be brought against the men involved in McGinley's shooting.
Originally from Scotland 29-year McGinley grew up in the Falcarragh area.
Previous Article
Post a Comment